Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to echo the Prime Minister's and opposition leader's fine words yesterday to offer my heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of the Hon. Dr Rosemary Crowley AO, a former senator and minister from the great state of South Australia—an incredible contributor to our country, both in those roles and beyond, and an absolute champion for women in SA and across the country. Dr Crowley's impact in this regard cannot be understated.

As the first Labor woman from South Australia to enter federal parliament, her achievements, passion and sheer determination to make a difference are felt to this day. In fact you can see it right across this building, through Australia's first female-majority government. I'm privileged to be able to work with and learn from the incredible women I share these corridors with every time I step foot in Canberra. I'm just as honoured to do the same back home, alongside my state colleagues Minister Zoe Bettison MP and Rhiannon Pearce MP, who represent my constituents in Adelaide in their respective seats of Ramsay and King.

That progress can be traced straight back to the trail blazed by Dr Crowley. The significance of her life and work cannot be understated. And it was not without challenges. I think Senator Penny Wong put it best—that, when doors were put up in front of her just because of who she was, she continued to beat them down, over and over again. It's not good enough that Dr Crowley was confronted with barriers based on gender, regardless of when she entered this place. But she pushed on to do what was right. She called out gender discrimination, not just in politics but in the media as well as sport, and, as a direct result of the perseverance of her and other trailblazing women, our country knows better. Australia is a better place because of it.

She also made a huge mark on the Labor Party and, by extension, the policies Australia wholeheartedly embraces today. As a doctor, Rosemary Crowley knew the importance of accessible health care, and, through her activism and unwavering commitment to that objective, both in this building and across her life, she helped shape the universal healthcare system we cherish today.

Now, the seat of Spence is aptly named after Catherine Helen Spence, a leading suffragist from the 1800s who was the first female candidate to stand for the Federal Convention held in Adelaide; unfortunately, she was unsuccessful in that election. The reason why I raise this is that it was because of people like Catherine Helen Spence doing that hard work to pave the way for women to even contemplate the idea of entering politics that we have ended up with fantastic representatives like Dr Rosemary Crowley, who subsequently encouraged a new generation of female politicians to chase their dreams. There are many that I am very lucky to call colleagues in this place who we probably have Dr Crowley to thank for. I can think of a couple of people back in my home state, like the fantastic Emily Bourke MLC, who I had the good fortune of being at a dinner with recently where she made mention of this; it was an International Women's Day dinner at the Central District Football Club. It was because of her perseverance to pursue a career in politics that Emily followed her passion in standing for the legislative council.

This is important because we need to have strong women in leadership roles around the country for young girls to aspire to be. On the weekend just gone, I was out doorknocking with my very good friend Senator Marielle Smith. With us was 14-year-old Vanessa who is a fantastic student at St Columba College and an aspiring politician who came out doorknocking with us for the very first time. It is because of strong women in political leadership roles that opportunities are provided to our youngest girls to be the best version of themselves—that's what Dr Crowley's legacy is. It makes a lasting impact on the political discourse in this country. It has helped make this government better, because we have got a majority of women in our government, which is something that I'm extremely proud to be a part of.

I know that the decisions we've been delivering over the last three years are so much better for the contribution of the women in our parliament. We are extremely lucky to be in this position. We are, and should be, extremely thankful for the exceptional service that Dr Crowley gave to this place but also, importantly, to the great state of South Australia. On her passing, Australia lost an incredible contributor to this place, an incredible woman in her own right. May Dr Rosemary Crowley rest in peace.

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